Warriors do not plan to replace Elliott

The Warriors may be without a win in eight months but they have no plans to replace Matt Elliott with Kangaroos' coach Tim Sheens.

Reports across the Tasman on Sunday suggested Sheens, who last season coached Wests Tigers, could be rushed into the Warriors' role within the next fortnight, but the Australian has rejected that claim.

"That's news to me. There's no truth to that at all," he said. "I'm looking to getting back into club coaching at some stage, but I've not been approached by the Warriors. I've got the Australian job and that's my focus. So it's a pretty ridiculous rumour."

That the rumours surrounding Elliott's job security have begun to swirl after only three games is a reflection of the Warriors' present state. Today, when they face the Cowboys at Mt Smart Stadium, they will attempt to snap an 11-match losing run.

Having lost eight straight games to conclude last season, Elliott has so far been unable to revive the fortunes of the franchise since taking over from Brian McClennan. Warriors' co-owners Eric Watson and Sir Owen Glenn have been adamant that, in Elliott, they have the right man for the job, even if the results are yet to support that sentiment.

Sheens was initially linked with a move to Auckland when McClennan's successor was being sought, with the Warriors thought to be targeting a "super coach". Sheens certainly fitted that bill, with four NRL Premierships to his name after successful stints with Canberra and Wests.

He is currently being paid by the Tigers after reaching an agreement with the club when they signed Mick Potter from the English Super League. But the Warriors will not be supplementing that income any time soon, with talk of a potential coaching change seemingly premature.

However, the pressure will still be on Elliott to reverse his side's worrying recent trend. Should they fail to beat fellow strugglers North Queensland, the Warriors will be the only winless side in the NRL. The club's chances will be aided by playing at Mt Smart Stadium for the first time this season.

The losing run and talk of coaching changes is something unfamiliar to new recruit Todd Lowrie, having spent the last three seasons at Melbourne.

He said the differences between the teams matched their respective positions on the table, but he was hoping to help his new side with the lessons he learned at the Storm.

"You would be a bit of a mug to be at a place like that and not pick up anything that's worth sharing," he said. "I'm certainly not trying to replicate anything or trying to turn the Warriors into the Storm, but I definitely learned a lot of things down there.

"Down in Melbourne, it's such a strong environment, to go somewhere else is a change. Here, Matty [Elliott] has made no secret of the fact he's trying to change things and bring in a new attitude and culture.It takes time, but it's round three and it can't take too much longer or we're going to find the season over."

APNZ